Cricket News

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

The Proteas’ management have wished fitness and conditioning coach, Rob Walter well, after he was appointed as coach of the Nashua Titans on Tuesday. Walter has been part of the Proteas’ setup since 2009 when he took over from Grant Compton, and is scheduled to begin his post on July 1st.

Proteas Team Manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee led the praise: “We have always set out to creating an environment that gives our management the best platform to grow and develop, and it’s encouraging to see how far Rob has come over the years. He has led from the front, taking the initiative to excel in his portfolio and to give the team environment the best possible resources. He is deeply respected by the players and his peers and I hope the opportunity he has been given to follow his life-long ambition is a success.”

Incumbent Head Coach, Gary Kirsten, believes Walter’s passion and knowledge of the game will be an invaluable asset for the Pretoria-based Franchise. “I started working with Rob in 2011 and his aspirations of becoming a head coach were always widely known. He understands the environment that is needed to create leaders and to grow a winning culture and his skills are of high quality after serving a dual purpose for us as our fielding and fitness coach. I don’t think his lack of experience as a head coach will matter because he has fantastic man-management skills, which forms an important base when coaching at the top level.”

Walter thanked the Proteas family: “ It’s a great honour for me, and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead, but in the same breathe, it is sad to leave the Proteas family because it is a deeply rewarding and enriching set-up to be part of. I have made many close friendships and learnt so much from them, I will always be indebted to them.

“The performances of the team stand alone but the learning for me has been in the processes and ethics that the team lives by daily. Each member has their role to play in creating the Proteas culture and for me those are the most important values I have learnt.”

ENDS

Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras and SA bowling star, Monde Zondeki, has decided to call an end to his cricket career following persistent back injury problems. Making the announcement at Cobras CEO, Andre Odendaal, commented, “The prognosis by his doctors is that Monde has multiple level degenerative changes in his lumbar spine and that it is highly unlikely that his back would stand up to sustained fast bowling”. He has been advised further that not even major spinal surgery might improve his back to the extent he could once again play competitive cricket.

Zondeki is one of only five black African cricketers so far to have represented South Africa in official test cricket. The others are fellow fast-bowlers, Makhaya Ntini, Victor Mpitsang and Mfuneko Ngam, as well as wicketkeeper/batsman Thami Tsolekile. He was born in King Williams Town on 27 July 1982. He studied briefly at Treetops (Lusaka, Zambia) and St Christopher’s Primary, but learned his trade over ten years at Dale College in King Williams Town, before making his first-class debut for Border against New Zealand in 2000/2001. His 12-year career, spanned over 200 top-flight games, including six tests, 13 other international appearances and 91 games for the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras.

Zondeki took altogether 164 wickets for the Cobras, and ended up with 269 in first-class cricket and 119 in the limited-formats. He dismissed Marvin Atapattu with his first ball in international ODI cricket in Bloemfontein in 2002 and his best test bowling figures for South Africa were 6-39 against Zimbabwe in 2004/05. He also took 6-37 for SA A in a limited overs game against Sri Lanka in 2003/04. His best season was in 2007/08 when he captured 62 wickets in 11 first-class games, an achievement which saw him named one of South Africa’s five Cricketers of the Year. He took 54 of these wickets for the Cobras and this tally remains a record for the franchise in a season.
On the batting side, he and Gary Kirsten share the eighth wicket partnership record of 150 for South Africa. This was when he scored 59 against England at Leeds in his debut test.

Asked to comment, Monde Zondeki said, “It’s been a good innings for me, though at times frustrating because of the injuries, and I look forward to remaining involved and giving back to the game in future. I owe the different provinces I have played for and my team mates over the years a special word of thanks”. Zondeki will stay on as a temporary member of the administrative staff at the Cobras while he plans his future path, which includes further studies, the development of his budding career as a SuperSport television commentator, work experience with World Sport in the leisure industry and an advanced CSA level 3 coaching course.

Beresford Williams, Chairman of Western Cape Cricket, thanked Zondeki for his contribution to cricket and wished him well for the future. “Monde is talented young man who has made a major contribution to the Cobras and South Africa on the playing field up to now, and we are confident he has an important role to play off the field as well in future”.

ENDS

Issued for and on behalf of Western Cape Cricket (Pty) Ltd by:

JASMIENA DAVIDS
MANAGER: MARKETING – WESTERN CAPE CRICKET (PTY) LTD playing as the NASHUA MOBILE CAPE COBRAS